GOOD Friday: Kanye West Brings the Whole Family to “Good Friday”

September 11, 2010

If you’re a fan of rap music, you don’t believe in promises. From release dates to teased collaborations to entire albums, you’ll believe it when you see it. So for those waiting for Kanye West to slip up on his GOOD Friday promise — a new track every week until Christmas — last night seemed primed for a miss. It was, after all, Fashion’s Night Out; West was drunk by 7 p.m. “This is the best night of my life uuuum so far,” he wrote. And yet, by a few minutes after 11 p.m., the world had “Good Friday,” the song. And Kanye brought the drums! Too bad Big Sean came along.

As the GOOD Gudda Gudda, Sean delivers a crude, out of place and all around unpleasant verse, which may make you wish Kid Cudi was rapping. Instead, the lonely stoner turns in a pleasant hook — “I know the city’s getting ready for me” — with the help of Uncle Charlie Wilson, providing West the Fashion Week anthem he’s always wanted. Did Kanye mention that his sweater’s a Jeremy Scott? He did.

West is shrouded in distortion, Common drops off a few bars and manages to not embarrass himself and then Pusha T comes through and grouches over all of it.

It’s disorienting to hear one half of the Clipse on such a jaunty piano number, one that makes even “Popular Demand” sound dark. But Pusha’s grumpiness and aggression are muted by the instruments, like he’s attempting to hold a scowl while being tickled. Just like that, he’s the centerpiece of “Good Friday” and part of the family. It almost sounds like he’s having fun. Almost.